@article{559cc4f19fc8476b8b56af1f7033385f,
title = "Seasonal environments, episodic density compensation and dynamics of structure of chiropteran frugivore guilds in Paraguayan Atlantic forest",
abstract = "Seasonal environmental variation experienced in the subtropics may contribute substantially to dynamics of community structure. This is particularly true for Neotropical bats because the geographic terminus of most families occurs there. Paraguayan Atlantic forest provides an ideal opportunity to evaluate effects of seasonality on structure of communities; it exhibits notable spatial and seasonal environmental variation and lies near the edge of the geographic distribution of most tropical bat species occurring there. We examined seasonality of bat populations and communities as well as correspondence to seasonal environmental conditions in eastern Paraguay. Most species exhibited lower abundances in the cool than in the warm season. Nonetheless, magnitude of differences was species-specific. Accordingly, highly significant differences between warm and cool seasons existed regarding species composition, evenness and diversity. Moreover, consistent with competition theory, magnitude of positive correlation between morphological distance and abundance and hence degree of structure was greater in the cool than warm season. Across the New World, seasonality assumes various forms (i.e. cold winters, dry and wet seasons) suggesting that better understanding of mechanistic bases of bat community structure in general may come from seasonal perspectives.",
keywords = "Bat assemblage, Bat community, Competition, Frugivory, Null model, Seasonality",
author = "Stevens, {Richard D.} and Amarilla-Stevens, {Heidi N.}",
note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgments This research was supported by grants from the American Society of Mammalogists, Grants in Aid of Research, as well as by the office of the Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies, Funding Information: the office of Research Services, the Graduate School, Department of Biological Sciences, and the Association of Biologists at Texas Tech University. In Paraguay, the Minist{\'e}rio de Agricultura y Ganadar{\'i}a, through the Direccion de Parques Nacionales y Vida Silvestre, the Museo Nacional de Historia Natural del Paraguay and in particular the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora office, provided substantial logistical support. Specifically, I. G. de Fox, A. L. Aquino and O. Romero were quite helpful regarding vehicles and general logistical considerations. P. Mueller of Yaguaret{\'e} Forests and A. Yanoski from the Fundaci{\'o}n Moises Bertoni provided access to field sites as well as much logistical assistance. The Universidad Cat{\'o}lica de Nuestra Se{\~n}ora de la Asunci{\'o}n provided storage and laboratory facilities. R. Baker and The Museum, Texas Tech University provided support. R. Fari{\~n}a, M. Mieres, L. Gim{\'e}nez-Raid{\'a}n, J. Pintos, and G. Terol provided field assistance. A. L. Aquino, S. Presley, C. L{\'o}pez-Gonz{\'a}les, R. Owen, and M. Gorresen provided invaluable insights and assistance in all stages of this project. In part, fieldwork was supported by grants (DEB-9400926, DEB 9741543, DEB 9741134) from the National Science Foundation to R. D. Owen and M. R. Willig. RDS was supported by the National Science Foundation (DEB-0535939, DEB-1020890) and the Louisiana Board of Regents (LEQSF-2006-09, NSF/LEQSF (2006)-PFUND-46, NSF (2009)-PFUND-139) during the later stages of manuscript production.",
year = "2012",
month = jan,
doi = "10.1007/s10531-011-0182-1",
language = "English",
volume = "21",
pages = "267--279",
journal = "Biodiversity and Conservation",
issn = "0960-3115",
number = "1",
}